Or a third party was paid a one-time fee to make something look good - which still isn't a testament to the quality of the first party's service they're providing.

Sure, but it means that they managed to pick third-parties they work with that give a shit. They could have always picked ones that didn't.

When you're buying a pig in a poke (which is always the case when you're a first-time customer), this is a positive signal.